Apis(?)

Late Period–Ptolemaic Period

664–30 B.C.

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 130

A bull stands with its horns angled downward, as if poised to charge. It is not static; the back right leg steps forward, putting the whole body in motion. Bull statuettes were common dedications in the Late and Ptolemaic Periods, usually in connection with the Apis cult, based in Memphis. This bull, however, bears no special markings nor does it wear a sun disc, unlike the usual representations of sacred bulls. How it would have functioned is unclear, but its simple design and subtle dynamics make it an unusual and intriguing piece.

Artwork Details

Overview

Provenance

References

Title: Apis(?)
Period: Late Period–Ptolemaic Period
Date: 664–30 B.C.
Geography: From Egypt
Medium: Cupreous metal
Dimensions: H. 3.8 cm (1 1/2 in.); W. 2 cm (13/16 in.); L. 5.6 cm (2 3/16 in.)
Credit Line: Gift of Darius Ogden Mills, 1904
Object Number: 04.2.609
Curatorial Department: Egyptian Art

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